Greater number of cancer genes discovered

More genes are responsible for cancer development than previously thought, it has been claimed today.

Scientists at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute carried out the broadest survey yet of the genetics of cancer by sequencing more than 250 million letters of DNA code, covering more than 500 genes and 200 cancers.

Published in the Nature journal, the study shows that the number of mutated genes that 'drive' cancer is more than researchers realised before. It also reveals that each cell carries many more 'passenger' mutations.

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Driver mutations cause the cancer to grow whereas passengers are co travellers that make no contribution to cancer development.

"The human genome is a vast place and this, our first deep systematic exploration in cancer, has thrown up many surprises", said Professor Mike Stratton, co leader of the cancer genome project at the Sanger Institute.

His research team identified possible driver mutations in 120 genes, many of which had not been seen before.

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